Mail-carrier&#39;s box.



L. J. ANDREWS.

MAIL GARRIERS BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APRA?, 1909.

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LUDWIG J. ANDREWS, OF LINDSTROM, 1V[INNESOTA.

MAIL-CARRIERS BOX.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUDWIG J. ANDREWS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lindstrom, in the county of Chisago and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Carriers Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in mail carriers boxes particularly adapted for use in rural mail service, where the box is commonly carried in a wagon or other vehicle. Its object is to provide an extensible box which can be adjusted in size to accommodate it to the amount of mail matter to be carried, and which can be easily manipulated and handled, and will hold safely and in convenient position the different articles to be carried.

More particularly the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specilication, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved box in extended position; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same on line of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through one of the ends of the box on line g/-g/ of Fig. 1, the rest of the box being broken away; Fig, 4 is a perspective view of the box in' collapsed position with the cover partly broken away, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the removable end pocket alone.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings Arepresents an open topped bottom member or receptacle, and B a bell or extension member which telescopes over the receptacle A. The extension member is of approximately the same height as the bottom member and has at the top a hinged cover 2. The cover is provided with a handle or grip 3 whereby the box can be lifted and carried.

The bottom receptacle A is divided by a cross wall or partition 4l into two compartments, a larger compartment 5, and a small end compartment 6. The compartment 6 is adapted to receive the small box or pocket 7, which is removably suspended from the upper edge of the bell B by means of a lip or hook 8 upon its end wall. Being thus Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led April 17, 1909.

Patented Aug. 3o, 1910.

Serial N0. 490,563.

carried by the bell or extension member, the pocket 7 will go up and down with it, so that it will always be in a. position convenient for use.

In order that the extension member may slide freely and truly upon the receptacle member, the receptacle member is provided on each end with a vertical guide strip or tenon 9 which fits slidingly within a' corresponding offset channel 10 upon the end of the extension member. ber is adjusted and held at diere'nt heights by means of a pair of spring locking strips or latches 11, each of which is secured at its upper end upon the outside of one of the channels 10 and has near its lower end an inwardly extending pin 12 passing freely through a hole in the wall of the channel in position to be sprung into any one of a series of holes 13 arranged at desired intervals in the strip 9. The pin is held by the spring normally pressed in against the strip. The spring is held within a keeper 14 upon the receptacle and has at the bottom a finger piece 15 whereby it may be pulled out to free the pin from the hole 13.

In use the bulk of the mail matter will be placed within the large compartment 5, while special delivery packages, record books and other small matters may be put into the end pocket 7. If there is more matter than can be held in the compartment 5, the extension member can be raised to the desired height by pulling out the spring strips 11 to withdraw the pins 12 from the holes in which they are lodged, and pulling up upon the finger pieces 15. When the extension piece is at the desired height the strips are released and allowed to thrust the pins into the first holes they come into registration with.

It will be observed that the extension member has a cover at the top so .that access to the box can be gained without lifting the extension member olf from the receptacle. And as the suspended pocket 7 works up and down in the compartment 6, the mail matter in the larger compartment 5 cannot work its w'ay under the pocket, when the same is raised, and block its path.

I claim as my invention:

l. Amail carriers box comprising an open topped receptacle formed with a compart- The extension memment, an extension member teleseoping over upper edge of the extension member and eX- the receptacle, and a pocket supported upon tending down Within the compartment. lo the extension member and Working Within In testimony whereof I ax my signature said compartment. in presence of two Witnesses.

2. Amal carrers box comprising an open LUDWIG J. ANDREWS. topped receptacle formed with a. eompart- Vtnesses: ment, an extension member teleseopmg over I-I. S. JOHNSON,

the receptacle, and a pocket hung upon the II. SMITH. 

